Samuel John Caswell
Samuel John Caswell (1841-1913)
1913 Obituary [1]
SAMUEL JOHN CASWELL was born in London on 16th March 1841.
After he was educated at the City of London School, he was apprenticed, at the age of sixteen, to his uncle, and served on the latter's ship. On leaving the ship he went to Australia, where he was employed in an engineering works in Melbourne for about three years.
In 1862 he proceeded to New Zealand, and was engaged in gold mining until 1864, when he became chief engineer in the Dutch mail service in Java.
This was followed by similar service in English ships and in the Siamese Navy, and in 1869 he went to Japan, where he was employed at Messrs. Farrell's Engineering Works at Kobe. From 1871 to 1876 he acted as head foreman of the Imperial Japanese Government Railway Works, and then returned to the mercantile marine service.
In 1882 he was appointed assistant superintendent engineer to the Mitsui Bishi Mail Steamer Co., of Japan; and this position he held for two or three years, after which he carried on general engineering work.
Later he acted as surveyor for the Bureau Veritas at Kobe, and also studied architecture, designing the first three-story house built at Kobe.
In 1900 he retired from business, and travelled in various countries.
His death took place at Rockhampton, Australia, on 22nd June 1913, at the age of seventy-two.
He was elected a Member of this Institution in 1891.